High security padlock construction

Abstract

By providing a unique cam member which cooperatingly controls shackle locking elements to move between a first locked position and a second unlocked position, an effective, easily produced, high security padlock is achieved. Furthermore, the high security padlock of the present invention is constructed, in one embodiment, for being controlled by use of a combination system and, in an alternate embodiment, for being controlled by using either a combination system or a key and tumbler system.

1. A high security padlock constructed for ease-of-use as well as for substantially eliminating the ability of unauthorized persons from opening the padlock, said padlock comprising:
 a housing incorporating a combination section incorporating a first, central elongated bore longitudinally extending through the center of the housing, and a second elongated bore formed in juxtaposed, spaced, substantially parallel relationship to the first central bore; 
 a plurality of dial receiving zones formed in the housing, each of said receiving zones
 extending substantially perpendicularly to the axis of the first central bore, and 
 defined by two juxtaposed, spaced, parallel facing surfaces, each of said surfaces extending perpendicularly to the central axis of the central bore; and 
 
 at least one elongated release channel formed in the first central bore and axially extending therewith, said elongated release channel defining a zone for enabling the opening of the padlock; 
 an elongated shaft mounted in the first central bore and constructed for axial, longitudinal movement therein, said shaft comprising a first end and a second end; 
 a shackle comprising a generally J-shape, incorporating a short leg having a terminating end constructed for cooperative locking and unlocking engagement with the housing, and also incorporating a notched zone formed in said short leg adjacent to the terminating end, and a long leg cooperatively mounted in the second elongated bore of the housing for axial movement and pivoting movement relative thereto, and incorporating a notched zone formed therein and positioned in cooperating alignment with the notched zone of the short leg; 
 a plurality of tumbler sleeves, each of said tumbler sleeves being rotationally mounted to the elongated shaft for rotational movement about the central axis thereof, and
 incorporating at least one radially extending fin formed on the outside surface thereof and constructed for cooperative association with at least one of the elongated release channels for preventing axial movement of the shaft as well as enabling the axial movement thereof when each of said radial fins are positioned in one of the elongated release channels; 
 
 a plurality of dials, each of said dials mounted in a dial receiving zone of the housing, peripherally surrounding a tumbler sleeve for cooperating therewith; and 
 two shackle locking members mounted in the housing in cooperating relationship with the notched zones of the shackle; and 
 a cam member mounted to the first terminating end of the shaft and positioned in cooperating relationship with the notched zones of the shackle and the shackle locking members for controllably guiding and moving the locking members between a first locked position wherein a portion of each locking member is engaged in one notched zone of the shackle, and a second unlocked position wherein the locking members are disengaged from the notched. 
 
   
   
     2. The high security padlock defined in  claim 1 , wherein said cam member is further defined as comprising a first portion and a second portion positioned in cooperating relationship with each other and positioned for being alternately movable into alignment with the notched zones of the shackle and controlling engagement with the shackle locking members for controlling the movement of the locking members between the padlock locked position and the padlock unlocked position. 
   
   
     3. The high security padlock defined in  claim 2 , wherein the locking members are further defined as comprising spherically shaped balls or bearings and the cam member is further defined as comprising a first dimension defined by the first portion and a second dimension defined by the second portion, the second dimension being less than the first dimension for enabling the spherically shaped balls/bearings to be easily moved out of locking engagement with the notched zones of the shackle. 
   
   
     4. The high security padlock defined in  claim 3 , wherein the cam member is further defined as being axially movable within the housing of the padlock between a first position and a second position,
 said first position being the locked mode wherein the first portion of the cam member is aligned with the locking members and the notched zones of the shackle for causing at least a portion of the locking members to be maintained in engagement within the notched zones, thereby preventing movement of the shackle relative to the housing; and 
 said second position being the unlocked mode wherein the second portion of the cam member is aligned with the locking members and the notched zones of the shackle for enabling the locking members to be disengaged from the notched zones, thereby releasing the shackle locked engagement in the housing. 
 
   
   
     5. The high security padlock defined in  claim 4 , wherein the cam member is further defined as comprising a camming or guiding surface formed between the first portion and the second portion for controllably contacting and guiding the movement of the spherically balls/bearings into and out of engagement with the notched zones of the shackle. 
   
   
     6. The high security padlock defined in  claim 1 , wherein the first central elongated bore is further defined as being closed at the top surface of the housing and open at the bottom end of the housing, and the elongated shaft mounted therein is further defined as comprising a finger operable pushbutton affixed to the second end thereof for controlling the axial movement of the shaft within the elongated bore. 
   
   
     7. The high security padlock defined in  claim 6 , wherein said pushbutton is further defined as being mounted to the shaft with a breakaway engagement for theft deterrent purposes. 
   
   
     8. The high security padlock defined in  claim 1 , wherein said padlock further comprises a biasing spring mounted between the housing and the cam member for continuously biasing the cam member and the elongated shaft associated therewith downwardly, thereby maintaining the padlock in its normally locked position with a first portion of the cam member aligned with the locking members and the notched zones of the shackle. 
   
   
     9. The high security padlock defined in  claim 1 , wherein each of said tumbler sleeves are further defined as comprising three separate and independent radially extending fins formed on the outside surface thereof and said housing is further defined as comprising three separate and independent elongated release channels formed along the length of the first central bore and constructed for cooperating with the radially extending fins of the tumbler sleeves for enabling the opening of the padlock. 
   
   
     10. The high security padlock defined in  claim 9 , wherein the arcuate spaced distance between the three radially extending fins of the tumbler sleeves are constructed with at least one of said arcuate distances being greater than the remaining two arcuate distances and the arcuate distance between the three release channels are constructed with identical dimensions, thereby providing a construction which provides an added theft deterrent feature. 
   
   
     11. The high security padlock defined in  claim 10 , wherein the length of one of said radially extending fins is further defined as being greater than the length of the other two radially extending fins, thereby providing a construction wherein the radially extending fin with the greater length engages one of the release channels before the remaining two radially extending fins engage a release channel, thereby providing a construction which achieves an additional theft deterrent feature while still enabling the normal operation of the padlock to be unaffected. 
   
   
     12. The high security padlock defined in  claim 1 , wherein said padlock further comprises a key controlled locking section constructed for enabling the locking and unlocking of the shackle completely independently of the combination controlled section, thereby achieving a padlock construction comprising two separate and independent locking/unlocking control modes. 
   
   
     13. The high security padlock defined in  claim 12 , wherein the key controlled locking section is further defined as comprising:
 a cylinder mounted in the housing for controlled rotational movement and incorporating 
 a key receiving slot cooperatively associated with a plurality of tumblers for preventing the rotational movement of said cylinder whenever the designated key member is not present and enabling the rotational movement of the cylinder in response to activation by the designated key member, and 
 a ridge portion formed on the rear surface of the cylinder and constructed for extending outwardly therefrom; and 
 a lever arm extending between the cylinder and the cam member and constructed for moving the cam member between the first locked position and the second unlocked position in response to controlled movement thereof by the arcuate movement of the ridge portion of the cylinder; 
 whereby the rotational movement of the cylinder in response to the activation by the designated key member causes the ridge portion to arcuately move and simultaneously move the lever arm for causing the cam member to move from its first locked position to its second unlocked position. 
 
   
   
     14. The high security padlock defined in  claim 13 , wherein said lever arm is further defined as being in nested, contacting engagement with a surface of the cam member for assuring controlled movement of the cam member in response to the arcuate movement of the cylinder and the ridge portion mounted thereto. 
   
   
     15. A high security dual locking mode padlock constructed for ease-of-use as well as for substantially eliminating the ability of unauthorized persons from opening the padlock, said padlock comprising:
 a housing incorporating a combination controlled section and a key controlled section, comprising a first, central elongated bore longitudinally extending through the center of the housing, a second elongated bore formed in juxtaposed, spaced, substantially parallel relationship to the first central bore; and a cavity for receiving and retaining the key controlled section; 
 a plurality of dial receiving zones formed in the housing, each of said receiving zones
 extending substantially perpendicularly to the axis of the first central bore, and 
 defined by two juxtaposed, spaced, parallel facing surfaces, each of said surfaces extending perpendicularly to the central axis of the central bore; and 
 
 at least one elongated release channel formed in the first central bore and axially extending therewith, said elongated release channel defining a zone for enabling the opening of the padlock; 
 an elongated shaft mounted in the first central bore and constructed for axial, longitudinal movement therein, said shaft comprising a first end and a second end; 
 a shackle comprising a generally J-shape, incorporating a short leg having a terminating end constructed for cooperative locking and unlocking engagement with the housing, and also incorporating a notched zone formed in said shaft leg adjacent to the terminating end, and a long leg cooperatively mounted in the second elongated bore of the housing for axial movement and pivoting movement relative thereto, and incorporating a notched zone formed therein and positioned in cooperating alignment with the notched zone of the short leg; 
 a plurality of tumbler sleeves, each of said tumbler sleeves being rotationally mounted to the elongated shaft for rotational movement about the central axis thereof, and
 incorporating at least one radially extending fin formed on the outside surface thereof and constructed for cooperative association with at least one of the elongated release channels for preventing axial movement of the shaft as well as enabling the axial movement thereof when each of said radial fins are positioned in one of the elongated release channels; 
 
 a plurality of dials, each of said dials mounted in a dial receiving zone of the housing, peripherally surrounding a tumbler sleeve for cooperating therewith; 
 a cylinder mounted in a receiving and retaining cavity of the housing for controlled rotational movement and incorporating
 a key receiving slot cooperatively associated with a plurality of tumblers for preventing the rotational movement of said cylinder whenever the designated key member is not present and enabling the rotational movement of the cylinder in response to activation by the designated key member, 
 a ridge portion formed on the rear surface of the cylinder and constructed for extending outwardly therefrom; 
 
 two shackle locking members mounted in the housing in cooperating relationship with the notched zones of the shackle; 
 a cam member mounted to the first terminating end of the shaft and positioned in cooperating relationship with the notched zones of the shackle and the shackle locking members for controllably guiding and moving the locking members between a first locked position wherein a portion of each locking member is engaged in one notched zone of the shackle, and a second unlocked position wherein the locking members are disengaged from the notched zones of the shackle; and 
 a lever arm extending between the cylinder and the cam member and constructed for moving the cam member between the first locked position and the second unlocked position in response to controlled movement thereof by the arcuate movement of the ridge portion of the cylinder, thereby enabling the rotational movement of the cylinder in response to the activation by the designated key member to causes the ridge portion to arcuately move and simultaneously move the lever arm for causing the cam member to move from its first locked position to its second unlocked position. 
 
   
   
     16. The high security padlock defined in  claim 15 , wherein said lever arm is further defined as being in nested, contacting engagement with a surface of the cam member for assuring controlled movement of the cam member in response to the arcuate movement of the cylinder and the ridge portion mounted thereto. 
   
   
     17. The high security padlock defined in  claim 15 , wherein said cam member is further defined as comprising a first portion and a second portion positioned in cooperating relationship with each other and positioned for being alternately movable into alignment with the notched zones of the shackle and controlling engagement with the shackle locking members for controlling the movement of the locking members between the padlock locked position and the padlock unlocked position. 
   
   
     18. The high security padlock defined in  claim 17 , wherein the locking members are further defined as comprising spherically shaped balls or bearings and the cam member is further defined as comprising a first dimension defined by the first portion and a second dimension defined by the second portion, the second dimension being less than the first dimension for enabling the spherically shaped balls/bearings to be easily moved out of locking engagement with the notched zones of the shackle. 
   
   
     19. The high security padlock defined in  claim 18 , wherein the cam member is further defined as being axially movable within the housing of the padlock between a first position and a second position,
 said first position being the locked mode wherein the first portion of the cam member is aligned with the locking members and the notched zones of the shackle for causing at least a portion of the locking members to be maintained in engagement within the notched zones, thereby preventing movement of the shackle relative to the housing; and 
 said second position being the unlocked mode wherein the second portion of the cam member is aligned with the locking members and the notched zones of the shackle for enabling the locking members to be disengaged from the notched zones, thereby releasing the shackle locked engagement in the housing. 
 
   
   
     20. The high security padlock defined in  claim 19 , wherein the cam member is further defined as comprising a camming or guiding surface formed between the first portion and the second portion for controllably contacting and guiding the movement of the spherically balls/bearings into and out of engagement with the notched zones of the shackle.